I want to thank the community for a wonderful UN Day on November 6th. It took a village to put the event together. We were fortunate to have the parade and assembly before the rain settled back in.

Why do we celebrate UN Day at ICS? It is important for us to celebrate our global community through sharing our heritage but it goes further. We are celebrating the most powerful gift of all. That gift is education. At ICS, we have created an environment that focuses on learning through an understanding of ourselves and the world around us. As I visit classrooms, I see many examples of this. From students discussing what a peacemaker is to how to write your own personal narrative, I see the development of empowered learners.

Malala Yousafzai said, “Our books and our pens are the most powerful weapons.” She was speaking to the United Nations Youth Assembly on education. Giving our students an education that helps them to be engaged global citizens is the core of what we do at ICS. Seeing each and every child at ICS participate in UN Day warmed my heart and gave me a feeling of hope for the future.

In celebration of Decatur’s “On the Same Page” reading program, ICS welcomed Newbery Award-winning author/illustrator CeCe Bell on Thursday, November 5th! CeCe gave an author talk to some of our students about her latest book called El Deafo, and she also signed books!

Cece Bell has been writing and illustrating children’s books for over a decade, but in her latest she refers to her own story about growing up hearing-impaired, after meningitis left her “severely to profoundly deaf” at the age of 4.In El Deafo, she tells her story in a way children understand and can relate to, and illustrates as a graphic novel with the purpose of using ‘speech balloons’ to “visually show all the ways a hard-of-hearing or a deaf person might or might not be hearing”, explained Cece to the attentive audience.

Cece Bell talking about the Phonic Ear she used to help her hear.

We want to thank our good friends at Little Shop of Stories book store for making this event possible.

Students picking up their Warm Fuzzies bags.

This visit was part of a long bullying awareness unit that Ms. Lori and Ms. Scott have been co-teaching. As part of this effort, the 5th Grade students made ‘Warm Fuzzies’: ‘compliment’ bags that their classmates filled with anonymous compliments and little trinkets.

Thank you to those who joined the thousands of generous donors supporting causes all over Georgia and showed their support for our School. ICS was among hundreds of nonprofit organizations all across the state participating in Georgia Gives Day on November 12, 2015.

At ICS we value diversity. In that spirit, we are thrilled to celebrate our 14th Annual United Nations Day (UN Day) on Friday, November 6. United Nations Day is a celebration of the various cultural and ethnic communities that are represented in our school.

The Parade of Nations will start at 9:45am. Students will parade south on Medlock to North Decatur Road wearing traditional clothing from the more than 30 countries represented at ICS. Families, friends and neighbors are invited to enjoy the parade.

A Celebration of Nations program will immediately follow the parade in the ICS courtyard featuring student readings and performances. The ICS community will enjoy a Potluck Luncheon following the celebration. We ask that parents bring a traditional dish from their family/country. Each dish should provide a sample portion for 20-25 people per each grade level your children attend. Keep in mind that the school has no opportunity to heat or refrigerate dishes, so plan accordingly. If your last name starts with A-K, please bring a savory dish or drink (meat, side dish, vegetables, water, juice). Parents with names starting with L-Z, please bring a sweet dish or paper plates and plastic silverware (cookies, cake, fruits, knives, forks and spoons).

It is very important for the planning of the event that we know the country your child will be representing, and what you plan to contribute for the potluck. Please send a note to your child’s teacher with this information if you have not done so already.

Once the meal is concluded, students should depart with their parents. There will be no After School Program on November 6. Students who will ride the bus home will leave at 2:00pm from school.

ICS was awarded $4,500 for their enthusiasm and effort as students, staff, families and friends cheered for participants at the Atlanta 10-Miler race on Sunday, October 25. The early morning weekend wake-up call and chilly Fall temperatures didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Our ICS “Pumpkin Patch” cheer zone was a highlight for runners in this Atlanta Track Club event. Way to go!

Special thanks to Coach Dawn, Ms. Claudia, Ms. Beth, and Ms. Hattie for leading this initiative. Thanks also to Mr. Wilson and his drumming group, Mr. Darvis, Ms. Hudson, Ms. Ashlei, Ms. Linda, Ms. Emmalee, super-volunteers Marilyn and Asako, and all of the parents and students who came out to show their support!

ICS wants to also thank the Atlanta Track Club and the Kilometer Kids program for their continuous support.

We are International

The school’s annual United Nations day continues to be the best and biggest celebration at ICS. We intentionally value diversity and on this day we showcase it. In spite of the weather forcing us to hold the Parade of the Nations and the performances indoors, it was still a special occasion. Here are some articles and pictures […]